Monday, May 31, 2010

With John absent from the session, Renzo steps in as the special guest writer :)

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Session Notes for the 22nd 0f May 2010

Players:

Mike: Max Plastic

Anthony: Monolith

Pat: Dr. Tesla

Robin: Zero G

Renzo: Galvanos?/Kenji

John: Bronco(in absentia)

At the mansion, Monolith wakes startled from a bad dream involving this alleged 3rd subbasement.

Monolith decides it's time to get some answers, so of course he goes straight to 13 year old Kenji.

Monolith asks Kenji about Eve, they get into a frank conversation about Kenji's new AI, as frank as possible considering Kenji is keeping some truth's about Eve to himself(Sterling's little creation who conveniently is duping Stirling himself).

As Monolith and Kenji stroll through the base debating Eve, they happen upon the Lab where Dr. Tesla is having a spirited debate with Tesla himself(another wacko joins the team) a conversation about the 3rd subbasement ensues and how we can take a look without having to tear things apart, Dr. Tesla insists we can make an MRI 10 years before it's time, things don't work out perfectly Dr. T kicks them out. We'll get back to T&T a little later.

Meanwhile outside drunk superman (forgot his name) is BBQing what he lovingly refers to as bourbon squirls. (old family recipe)when Zero G and Max happen upon him and luckily there is enough squirl to be had by all.

Lady A shows up, she asks for help transporting SKULLSMASHER to Belle Isle, Zero G kindly offers his assistance, she explains the whole team will be needed for this of course.

Back at science central Kenji introduces Monolith to Eve they hit it off(Monolith seems concerned).There conversation is interrupted by a call from Doc Titan explaining that whatever it is that we are doing is causing severe electrical interference with the city and he'll be coming to the mansion within minutes. A few minutes later he shows up, Monolith meets him outside and explains, Doc Titan loves the MRI idea (nerds assemble) Doc and Kenji go Downstairs.

Monolith ever vigilant in his role as second in command debriefs Zero G about Eve and the 2 Tesla's, Zero G seems to be quite relaxed about it all, almost distant. Zero G tells Monolith about this evenings SKULLSMASHER mission and Monolith leaves to join the brain trust downstairs.

Success!!!! thanks to Kenji's apparent genius and everyone else's help of course the MRI is completed in record time. Doc Titan is impressed by Kenji's genius and somewhat perplexed. Which leads to Monolith feeling the need to voice his concerns about Eve to yet someone else and a conversation ensues with Doc Titan.

Time for our meeting with Eagle to help transport SKULLSMASHER, we meet LadyA on the outskirts of the city.

An energy pulse from space shatters the containment unit with SKULLSMAHER in it.

Most of the team gets hit by debris except Gal and Zero G. Dr. T, Max and Monolith go flying off the bridge Zero G stops them from hitting the water.

Before SKULLSMASHER can do anything Dr. T fires off a powerful blast as he realizes SKULLSMASHER is immune to electrical attacks and he laughs it off.

Gal comes in for a double rocket-fist fly-by to no avail.

While SKULLSMASHER is busy laughing at us, LadyA comes in with a masterful pounding giving Monolith an opening to step on SKULLSMASHER, he takes it like a man.

Meanwhile ZeroG goes out to help EAGLE agents in need.

Monolith goes to step on SKULLSMASHER again when he let's loose with an energy blast and gives Monolith a toasty foot shot. SKULLSMASHER now seems annoyed (oh shit!)

Max comes in with a tube toss with the debris from SS's containment tube, ZeroG adds weight to the attack intensifying the hit and they take SS out. Yay! Oops we were wrong...

SS chucks a truck at ZeroG, Gal interposes and goes flying into the river.

Dr. T decides to track were the signal came from and tracks it back to a satellite in space.

Monolith keeps chucking stuff at SS, SS goes from being annoyed to being mad. Thanks Monolith.

Gal decides we haven't pissed SS off enough so he pulls out his energy sword and takes out part of the bridge, surrounding cars and trucks but has no effect on SS. When will this end?

Dr. T'S electrical attacks having no effect he decides to charge into him instead(mad man) IT WORKS!! SS is out. The resulting impact collapses the bridge Max heroically strings himself up acting as the girders for the bridge, ZeroG realizes this and lightens the load for Max, SS is already backup by this point.

Monolith and SS go at it mano-mano/ Monolith is out, his poor nuts.

ZeroG and Gal go at SS together, SS throws Monolith at them. WTF!!!

Gal moves out of the way, ZeroG gets hit giving Gal a clear shot at SS who is under the water and can't be seen, Gal fires blind and hits. Everyone else is up and ready to fight, we need to take SS DOWN NOW!!!!!

Max creates a vortex under the water clearing a path for the rest of us to see SS. Why does SS have a smile on his face?

ZeroG weakens SS in hopes of wrapping this up, SS has other plans and ground pounds the river bed causing a tsunami to emanate from him out (there are millions of people in CapitolCity).

Gal closes the distance and super seizure eyes SS, ZeroG with a wave of his arms stops the tsunami and collapses it back onto SS and takes him out. Yay!!!

The side of Belle Isle opens up and there is the brightest flash of light, a super from the golden age called Atomicles is standing there waiting for Dr.T to teleport SS to Belle Isle. The doors close.

ZeroG goes up to LEO following Dr.T's find as he gets close to the satellite he sees a black rook on the side of the satellite just before it blows up.

The next morning back at the mansion Major King comes to visit. He is going to debrief us on classified information about an organization called the Citadel.

We find out about a man named Lord Sovereign and the Citadel’s agenda to change the world order, also there apparent association with the Metal Militia. We are asked to forget about Atomicles.

Major King leaves w decide it s time to test our MRI, low and behold Monolith is not insane. There is what seems to be a 3rd subbasement...........

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

The trial of the century begins. A special tribunal lead by the Supreme Court Chief Justice has been called by the President. Very tight lid on the case. 0G has been having issues getting a lawyer to defend someone on trial for high treason and attempted assassination of the President. Then a lawyer arrives at his digs in the Belle Isle isolation block. His name is Jack Kane, and he feels everyone is entitled to a defense. But he thinks 0G's case sucks. He suggests 0G pleads guilty and throws himself on the mercy of the court. 0G concurs and asks to see Monolith before the trial. Really? The convicted criminal on the team? OK.

Monolith arrives to have the probably no-so-private conversation. 0G's not optimistic, but doesn't mention his intention to plead guilty.

Meanwhile the government wants Gal's hardware and recordings from the event in DC. Kenji and Eve discuss. They create a mock hard drive to fool the Man. Kenji hands over the fake.

The trial begins. 0G pleads guilty. Lady A calls Monolith to inform him. Monolith freaks. Kenji suggests we take Garth Stirling up on his offer of a lawyer. A team meeting is called. Still no Angel. Lady A strolls in and announces she's been fired. A group called Strikeforce USA has been assigned presidential detail, superseding the Secret Service.

Garrison suggests we go bust him out. Kenji objects. Just in time to help out Tori calls a press conference to quit up and join up with Garth. Very nice of her. Then Stirling himself hacks his way through Kenji's firewall and interrupts our meeting. He offers help and security information about 0G's impending transfer to Strikeforce USA's secret location. Lady A points out this is a loophole and we should break him out now. Monolith wants to go. Kenji's down with whatever Lady A suggests we do. Max still thinks UFO is the key to this mess and exonerating 0G, negating the whole break-him-out-of-jail thing.

So Max and Bronco are going to stay behind while Kenji breaks into NATO's satellites, the rest are headed to Belle Isle.

Meanwhile, in 0G's cell... The guard bringing dinner zones out and Van Jove cones to have another chat with 0G. He berates him for pleading guilty and reminds him of his (Van Jove) intention to kill The Angel in a really painful way before he hunkers down to help 0G escape but walking him out the front door, using the guard as a cover. 0G disables the nullifiers, puts them on and they head off.

Just as they're ready to head out, in comes Strikeforce USA from one direction, and the Blue Jay from the other. 0G wrecks the landing pad, preventing either side from having access. Strikeforce USA members come in flying and a fray breaks out. Some flying spangler zaps 0G with an energy bolt. Some bug guy named Rushmore enters the fray as well, and Monolith joins in on the fun. Strikeforce USA kicks much ass, aided by the impression that they're in the right. It's Americana, Rushmore and American Eagle. They fly their shuttle at ours. Both crash into each other. The shuttle on shuttle action breaks both vehicles entirely. Steel Patriot escapes their shuttle and Lady A escapes ours as they crash. 3rd shuttle destroyed by the Sentinels in as many issues.

0G tries to tell Lady A about Van Jove. Nothing comes out.

Steel Patriot strafes the area. The fray continues, makes the news. Kenji spots the story and informs Bronco and Max before going back to his hacking.

Monolith and Lady A finally triumph with 0G's help as, meanwhile, Kenji has successfully broken into NATO.

He tracks the irregular radiation to Arizona. He radios the team. 0G drags the lot to the HQ, with Steel Patriot in pursuit. Garrison comes out to meet the Strikeforcer and annihilates the Patriot's armour.

Kenji grabs up his portable unit and mentions Eve out loud in front of Bronco.

They plan to head to Arizona. 0G rather surprisingly gravity shifts the entire team to Arizona.

So Doc Tesla... Out in the desert, stealing stuff from airplane graveyards. And conducting experiments. He spots a big spike on his meters. He suits up and heads out to see the Sentinels appear in his backyard electrical field spot. 0G puts up a shield and Lady A makes nice with the strangely dressed desert man. Fields and shields are shut down and a full conversation begins. Spikes are identified as coming from around that Native Reservation over there. Bronco gets tired of waiting for more than five seconds and takes off. Lady A, Max and 0G follow, Little Dove in the lead flying. She catches up, but veers to the res to check on people who are reportedly sick. The team catches up further upriver, just as the Earth itself is trying to attack Bronco. They enter the fray and radio Monolith about this new development. Doc Tesla offers to get Monolith there. Then teleports him, bringing on a 'What the Hell...?!' from Monolith upon arrival.

Bronco breaks free as Gal's coming in hot. His Geiger counter's going crazy. Plants are attacking, too. 0G tries to fight the plants, finds the roots go deep, and deduces the villains must be underground. Bronco, hearing mentioned they might be underground, solves the questioning by groundpounding the shit out of the local terrain. He causes a full-scale cave in.

0G catches Bronco before he falls in with the avalanche of landscape. Max, spotting an opportunity, Flattens the newly revealed Flora in one shot. Monolith stomps Obelisk. Doc Tesla kazarks Uranium. Hard.

Uranium declares his newly found desire to kill Doc Tesla. For that declaration, he earns another kazark. Just as hard. Third time's the charm when backed up by Galvanos jumping in with his giant sword to fell Uranium with a massive hit. 0G locks them all in a forcefield and detente is reached. EAGLE is called.

The lot of us head back to DC. As we land 0G hears Van Jove say in his (0G's) head that we owe him. Once we touch down UFO spontaneously and gregariously confesses their crimes.

Being now all squared with the law, we head back to HQ, with Doc Tesla in tow. Garrison's bar-b-qing when we get back. Introductions are made all around. And he's drunk.

After dinner 0G hears, then astrally sees Van Jove. Walter reminds him that real threats are coming, and he should start getting really ready...

Saturday, May 15, 2010

With this announcement by Green Ronin yesterday I have decided to hold off on making the Zenith Comics Presents line available for Mutants & Masterminds until 3rd Edition is out.

The reason has a lot to do with the fact that they will be ending the Superlink program for sure, but also because I like the attitude they are taking towards this entire 3rd edition business.

Green Ronin has always been a classy company from day one that understands the community of hobby publishers very well.

I will be looking forward to producing material for use with their flagship system, as well as for my primary choice BASH!

As a side note, don't forget that I plan to also make the material available for ICONS from Adamant Entertainment. So that means if you are into Supers roleplaying, Zenith Comics will have you covered!

Still not word on Villains & Vigilantes support though as I have had no luck in contacting them. :(

For those who were wondering about Hero/Champions versions of Zenith Comics, at this time I have to say no solely due to their licensing deal. It just doesn't sit right with me.

Cheers and stay tuned for more previews of the art from "Zenith Comics Presents: Public Enemies Volume 1" this week. Brought to you in living colour no less!

Friday, May 14, 2010

While the webpage is being worked on (and is not ready yet) I have decided to at least put up the first episode of Zenith Comics Presents: The Podcast for everyone to listen to. The first guest is none other than Jeff Dee, of Villains & Vigilantes fame.

Sunday, May 2, 2010

So the team leader's in jail, but at least President Ronnie is still in our corner.

The investigation continues, we keep our heads down.

Starbird's been hanging out, acting odd.

Little Dove also still hanging out. No recent visions.

Stirling offers a great high-priced lawyer. We turn him down.

Eve has been helping Kenji with the defensive stuff for the now public HQ. Very helpful.

Garrison's a little crusty about everyone being underfoot.

Day 3... brainstorming team meeting. Then an explosion.

Guys invade in metal suits. Bronco dives into the fray to protect Little Dove. Gets taken down by combined fire.

*click* "Max Plastic...?"

*click* "Oh he sucks."

*click* "OH @#$%*!!!"

As Max Plastic takes three of them out of the room and on to the lawn. Follows them out to finish his takedowns.

3 flyers coming in on a strafing run. They tag Max Plastic, but not out.

Gal, Monolith and Starbird enter the fray.

The Metal Militia continues taking the fight to us, with missiles. The fray starts turning to the heroes and the Militia 'bodyslide''s out. An odd detente.

Eve and Kenji discuss the upgrades. Eve just wants total control and she can totally improve Galvanos. So he gives her the keys to the kingdom, but not the Gal suit.

Bronco and Little Dove get it on. Monolith and Starbird conversate. They bring Gal in on the conversation as he, through Eve, seems to have lots of information all of a sudden. Monolith wants to pursue UFO and the Metal Militia. He calls Lady A (on Presidential Detail) to see if she has a contact who can help. Lasseter King calls back. They discuss.

Major King informs Monolith of the impending court proceedings after stonewalling him on meaningful information.

Monolith and Max continue the discussion. There's also 8 robots working in the yard.

Kenji tries to stay up and watch what Eve's doing, eventually falls asleep.

Next morning the grounds look lovely and rebuilt.

The robots are wearing clothes today. Monolith goes looking for Kenji. Finds him in front of a bank of security monitors. He sends Kenji to the showers and starts digging into the system. Finds there are 20 bots on the base. Goes deeper.

Finds a blank spot on the map. Curious, he goes for a stroll there.

He finds a big vault door and no cameras. He goes back for the elevator. Waits a while. Gets tired of waiting and grows bigger. Then rips the doors apart as he smells something eggy. Then he wakes up in his bed.

First thing is to call Kenji. He has no knowledge of Sub Basement 3. They meet at the elevator. No button. Odd. Max catches up and joins in the investigation. They head to SB2, the hanger deck. Max pours himself under the elevator and hits the floor quickly. No further space under the elevator.

The whole team gathers and investigates the missing floor, and the bottom of the elevator, right where it's supposed to be according to everyone by Monolith. He retells the story of the vault door. As Max is investigating further, the perimeter alarms go off. We rush to the grounds to find le Renard Roux tangled in tentacles on the lawn. We let him loose.

He wants to rejoin the team, and has a file to share from the Masonic Knight. It shows the Cayman Islands Support Group paid for the Metal Militia's attack.

Kenji, meanwhile, suspects Monolith is going crazy.

Monolith wants to dig further into the banking. Kenji's still worried about the legality. Monolith promises to ask nicely at first.

The meeting breaks, the boys start boy talking. Renard puts his foot in his mouth about Kenji in his chair. Kenji gets a call about a big fire. We pile into the rebuilt Blue Jay. The ship gets radiation readings as we approach the big forest fire.

Then the proximity alarm sounds. Then we get hit. Monolith loses control. We crash.

Big monster hands rip open the ship. Renard identifies Red Guard and Morningstar. Starbird declares they're here for her. A fray beings in earnest. Lots of loose energy being thrown around by the Russians.
Bronco launches debris at the flyers. Morningstar zaps Monolith as Bronco continues to launch parts of the ship at them. The parts fly right through her.

Gal ties the super seizure eyes on her, fails. Renard gets tagged by White Wolf, entering the scene. Also coming in and heading for Bronco is Malotok. He's a wrestling fan, and expresses his respect and honour in fighting Bronco. They throw down.

Max starts elastic launching debris, too. Renard opens up Wolf's midsection. Wolf returns the favour and slaughters Roux. Starbird hits him in retaliation, almost flattening Wolf. Hammer goes for Gal with an open opportunity, and hits him - hard.

Little Dove slips in and heals Monolith. Bronco comes back in the fight and continues to whale on Malotok. He continues to be good-natured about being pounded by the big Indian.

Bronco dodges a big gold palmslap from the air. Monolith throws Max Plastic at Red Guard. Max balls up and bounces Guard into the middle of next month. Then there's a growl, and Roux is all werefoxey. And he seems to be berserk.

Monolith tags Malotok as the fray continues. Wolf does all wolfman and the fur really starts to fly. Malotok misses. Monolith and Bronco combine. A super clothesline from hell off the ropes of Max Plastic and flattens Malotok.

Max springs at Morningstar and tags her on the way through. They teleport out, and we're left with a crazy Werefox. He goes for Dove. Bronco gets in the way and takes heavy hits instead of her. She heals back some of Bronco's damage. He slashes Gal while dodging Monolith. Dove chills him out on the second try with some Indian mind trick. He revers and the fray is fully over.

EAGLE arrives just in the nick of time to miss everything. We're debriefed and cut loose. Starbird carries us back to the base in the shell of the wrecked Blue Jay. Again.

Back at the base Starbird reveals her origin as a MiG pilot opposite the American pilot who became Gyro. She says there were others kidnapped by aliens. Like Wilder and the rest of UFO. Aliens are building supers for some unknown reason.

She offers to leave to stop drawing undue attention to us. We giver her a communicator, and she departs.